Irene first met us last year at New Hope Church’s annual neighborhood block party. At the time, Irene’s father—the family’s primary income earner—had just passed away. Because Irene’s mother and brother are both sick, neither is able to work to provide for their family. After her father passed away, Irene also had to quit her job in order to take care of her mother full time.

At the holiday party, Irene learned about New Hope Church’s monthly food pantry. In order to provide for her mother, brother, and children, Irene began visiting the food pantry at the beginning of the year in order to receive supplemental groceries. The food—especially the fresh vegetables—have been an enormous help to her, and each month she is able to ration out what she receives at the pantry to help cook her family nutritious meals.

Irene is thankful for the food she receives from the Rescue Mission Alliance Valley Food Bank and its donors. The generosity of the food banks is helping to keep her family fed each month as they adjust to this new season of their lives.

Submitted by Jason Wong, Coordinator – New Hope Pantry Ministry.